Improving equitable access to greenspace

Improving access to greenspace

The environments in which we live, work and play, have a significant role in our health and wellbeing. There is a growing evidence base demonstrating the numerous benefits greenspaces can have on our health. It has been estimated that £2.1 billion per year could be saved if everyone in England had access to greenspace, due to the increased physical activity in these spaces.

However, evidence shows that more deprived areas have less available greenspace, and as a result, communities who may benefit the most from accessing these spaces have fewer opportunities to. It is important that greenspaces are created and maintained in our area, and particularly in a way that reduces health inequalities.

A review has been published to provide local authorities with the tools needed to make the case for maintaining or even increasing the equitable provision of greenspace.

Benefits of greenspace

Greenspace is thought to benefit health and wellbeing in the following ways:

• Access to greenspace promotes healthy behaviours such as physical activity and other recreational activities. Evidence suggests that people may be more likely to enjoy, and to repeat, an activity if it takes place in a natural setting. Connecting spaces together can promote active travel; and creating healthy streets has been identified as being one of the easiest ways, at population level, to build physical activity into daily life.
• Greenspace can improve social contacts and connectivity, reducing social isolation and loneliness.
• Greenspace can support the development of skills and capabilities in young people. There is evidence to suggest that access to green space can improve motor skills, better academic performance and increased concentration.
• Greenspace within urban areas (including street trees, green walls and roof gardens) can help mediate the potentials harms caused by pollution or excessive noise – both of which may damage physical and mental health.

Access to greenspace has the potential to improve health outcomes for the whole population. However, people from disadvantaged communities receive greater benefit from living in a greener environment. Greenspace might therefore be a useful tool to reduce health inequalities between the richest and poorest in society.

However, more evidence is needed to understand the impact of greenspace on different demographic groups. The health benefits of greenspace will not be the same across all population groups. Any action needs to be carefully planned, involving local communities (particularly vulnerable or disadvantaged groups) from the start, and evaluated to ensure the benefits are maximised, and doesn’t increase the health inequalities it is trying to eliminate.

Greenspace interventions: what works, in which circumstances and for whom?

There are three basic types of greenspace interventions, those that:

1. Increase the amount, quality or improve accessibility to greenspace
2. Increase usage or engagement
3. Use targeted health interventions based on greenspace

Greenspace interventions are context specific. The outcomes vary on the setting and the population, and so what works in one area may not work in another. Interventions should be designed based on local data, using inclusive design principles, and in combination with meaningful consultation with the target population.

Interventions that increase the amount, quality or improve accessibility to greenspace

This might be an intervention that plants new street trees, improve facilities, adds bus routes or improves a park. The evidence to support the health benefits of this kind of intervention is mixed. The World Health Organisation suggest combining improvements to the physical environment with social engagements and participation interventions.

Interventions that increase use/engagement

Evidence suggests that simply by providing a natural setting will not necessarily lead to an increased use. ‘Facilitated access’ may be particularly useful for those who have little experience accessing greenspace, or for those for whom its use is not part of their cultural norm. Transport to a site, with a supported led activity, can be effective in reaching underrepresented groups, such as women from Black and Minority Ethnic groups and older adults. The social value of these activities was a strong motivator for continued participation.

Targeted health interventions in greenspace

Spending time in nature has been associated with positive psychological, social, physical and intellectual outcomes. The 25 year environment plan (25YEP) aims to explore how green prescribing (using nature-based interventions) can be used within mental health services.

Tailoring information

Materials produced to encourage the use of greenspace should be inclusive; target groups should ‘see themselves’ in the images provided. Materials should be developed with target groups in order to understand the barriers preventing them from accessing greenspace and in turn ensure the intervention does not negatively impact those it is trying to help.

For the full review, including more information about how to create the case for greenspace, please click here.